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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2011 19:43:28 GMT
This is the sort of project that really intrigues me. It might not be the right thing to do in Mexico City, but I can imagine its utility in super hot climates, or places subject to extreme storms and perhaps in some other situations. 65 storeys down
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 20, 2011 20:06:33 GMT
My mind is screaming no no no no no no no no!! I can imagine its utility if we colonize other planets, maybe. But Mexico City is already prone to all kinds of problems because of boneheaded engineering in the past. The history of the city & its precursor, Tenochitlan is fascinating. It's also a series of cautionary tales that should warn against this hole in the ground. If you don't wish to click on the link above, nor on this one about Lake Texcoco, suffice to say that Mexico City is located in the Valley of Mexico, sometimes called the Basin of Mexico. This valley is located in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in the high plateaus of south-central Mexico. It has a minimum altitude of 2,200 meters (7,217 feet) above sea level and is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes that reach elevations of over 5,000 meters. This valley has no natural drainage outlet for the waters that flow from the mountainsides, making the city vulnerable to flooding. Drainage was engineered through the use of canals and tunnels starting in the 17th century. The city primarily rests on what was Lake Texcoco. Seismic activity is frequent here. Lake Texcoco was drained starting from the 17th century. Although none of the lake waters remain, the city rests on the lake bed's heavily saturated clay. This soft base is collapsing due to the over-extraction of groundwater. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the city has sunk as much as nine meters in some areas. Source = 1st link in this reply
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